Samara knows getting attracted to Tahir is like asking for trouble. He is her boss, he's got divorced recently and has sworn off any commitment. Short term is NOT on her list. But has temptation ever been stronger?

The man who has walled off his heart

Tahir doesn't want his office protocol disturbed. But Samara might just make him make an exception! An temporary affair seems a solution to his troubles but when he senses her vulnerability, things begin to complicate beyond his control.

Tahir
stood with his back to her, the buildings and traffic of Lodhi Road spread out
below, visible through the clear glass of the almost wall-length picture
window. He turned when he heard her.

‘Last
evening was a big mistake.’ He said without preamble. ‘I can’t tell you how
sorry I am about it. Believe me, I don’t make it a habit to get drunk and
accost my staff.’

For
a second she could just stare at him, the rest of his words after big mistake not really penetrating her
brain.

All
night she’d dreamed wonderful, impossible dreams. Dreams in which he’d
confessed to burning desire and unbridled passion for her. Of course it was all
the end result of reading too many romantic historical novels. She knew how
silly those imaginings were. Still, to have him denounce the kiss that had left
her world spinning as a ‘big mistake’ was a hard lump to swallow.

‘It’s
alright.’ She said, trying to sound as though it didn’t matter. ‘You were
upset.’ Her thudding heart steadied a bit. Look
on the bright side, Samara. At least he was blaming their kiss on alcohol.

‘Which
doesn’t excuse my crappy behavior.’ His mouth twisted in self disgust. ‘I don’t
lose control like this usually...last night I was a lost case scenario.’

The
words stung her. How hopeless to desire him when he felt like this about his
wife. Ex wife, that was.

‘Please
don’t blame yourself, Tahir. You were drunk.’ Samara took a step towards him, ‘It
was one of those things that just happen. There’s no need for either of us to
get into a tizzy about it. I shouldn’t have come to your apartment anyway.’

‘No,
you shouldn’t have.’ He looked at her, his gaze dark and brooding, ‘I was the
one who initiated that kiss but the fact remains that you didn’t resist me. It
wasn’t just me last evening, was it?’

The
tide had turned. Her legs trembled a bit. She moistened suddenly dry lips. ‘What
do you mean?’

He
came closer, his tread silent on the deep pile carpet. ‘Why did you let me kiss
you, Samara? Why didn’t you stop me?’

His
words sent a jolt through her. Had that sharp gaze of his managed to penetrate
and look into her mind? She had known how astute he was. How long before he
pieced everything together to discover the truth of her feelings for him?

She thought quickly. Didn’t they say if you
said the truth casually enough, it could pass off without attracting attention?

‘Well…just
because.’ She offered and shrugged.

Dark
eyebrows rose at her admission. She said with more confidence and a touch of
carelessness. ‘You do yourself less than justice, Tahir. You’re idolized by
hundreds of women. So why not me? You’re attractive and I admit, for a moment,
curiosity got me…’ She held her breath. Would he buy that?

‘Whatever
your reasons, you crossed the threshold as much as I did. Keep that in mind, if
you talk about it.’

She
frowned, ‘Talk about it…? Tahir, are you insinuating I’ll spread the news that
we kissed?’

‘Girls
are fond of gossip. And what better snippet to pass around than the experience
of kissing the boss?’

‘That
was a sexiest remark!’

‘Was
it?’ He shrugged, not too bothered. ‘Or you can consider it as an observation
about the social nature of your gender. Whatever. Can you honestly say you
would resist the temptation to share it with your friends?’

‘When
it casts an aspersion on the whole of my sex, I would have to, wouldn’t I?’ she
said, trying to inject a lighter tone. Then she saw he was really waiting for
her answer and said more seriously, ‘It was a matter between you and me, Tahir.
And neither of us stands to gain by making it public. I can assure you, I know
that. Have I ever given you any cause not to depend on me?’

He
looked back, meeting her steady gaze and at last nodded.

She took a deep breath she hoped he wouldn’t notice
and added, ‘I know we can’t have anything spook our work relationship, Tahir.
And I think we are both sensible enough to put that kiss out of our minds.

Summerita Rhayne loves to write
sensual and emotional romance. There's no knowing when some quirky - or
sometimes even not so quirky - happening in daily life might trigger her right
brain and then she's off craving a new story. She loves writing characters who
learn and grow and find their way out of their troubles and emotional hang-ups.
Hot, sensual heroes and sassy but sweet heroines mostly fit the bill in her
stories. She also believes that a touch of humor never goes amiss in a book.

She lives in India. Her day is spent juggling day job, family life and writing.
On the offside she loves to embroider simple cross stitch patterns, cook and
cheer for Team India. She loves winding down with music, movies and the
internet.